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Deferring a school place.


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What would you do??

One of my Mums is going to defer her sons place at school this September and send him to a setting which is run outdoors and is very free and relaxed. (in my opinion lacks discipline) He is currently splitting his time between us and them. Mum has messed around with his sessions so much that even I am now unsure when he is going to be here!! This boy has always struggled to control his aggression and to make friends. When he was attending every day we were really making progress, now he is back to two days he is back to square one. He is very strong and lashes out, he does not really choose to play with others but you can see that he wants to. He is incredibly bright and we have no worries that he has got any special needs. I feel really strongly that if he misses his reception year he will not be able to become part of the cohort group in year 1. Whilst I respect his Mums decision I do think it is wrong for him. Do I have an open discussion with her stating my reasons?, (she is a very strong willed lady.) As a parent myself I am not sure that I would want someone telling me that, but as a professional I feel I have to do what I feel is right for the child.

Any advice??

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My gut reaction was.......

Explain, gently to her that his behaviour at your setting has 'deteriorated' but chose a much better word :o

if she wants him to attend this other setting perhaps she should move him to full time now - ah but will that totally mess up funding?

I wouldn't advise against him missing his Reception year - although I agree totally with you that is almost certainly the wrong decision - as I said this is just gut reaction........

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Why do you think he won't be able to become part of the year one cohort if he misses out the Reception year?

Good question - he will go in at Year 1 if he hasn't attended for the Reception year - well at least I think so......

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Aside from the issue of whether he will "fit in" to a year 1 class - he will only go into year 1 of the parents' chosen school if there is a space!

In my area a child born between Jan 1 and August 31 may defer entry into reception until the January of the new school year and not lose their place. However demand for school places (particularly those in more popular schools) outstrips the places so any spaces that become free are snapped up thereby leaving no spaces for children whose parents want them to start in year 1. Generally the only year 1 spaces available are in our "less popular" schools and not necessarily the parents' preferred school.

I don't think I would "proffer my advise" to the parents unless specifically asked for it (on those occasions I'm certainly not backward in coming forward xD ) - they are after all the child's parents and it is their right to exercise their parental responsibility and make choices for him (no matter how much we might disagree with them) usually in these situations you can't do right for wrong!

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Aside from the issue of whether he will "fit in" to a year 1 class - he will only go into year 1 of the parents' chosen school if there is a space!

In my area a child born between Jan 1 and August 31 may defer entry into reception until the January of the new school year and not lose their place. However demand for school places (particularly those in more popular schools) outstrips the places so any spaces that become free are snapped up thereby leaving no spaces for children whose parents want them to start in year 1. Generally the only year 1 spaces available are in our "less popular" schools and not necessarily the parents' preferred school.

I don't think I would "proffer my advise" to the parents unless specifically asked for it (on those occasions I'm certainly not backward in coming forward xD ) - they are after all the child's parents and it is their right to exercise their parental responsibility and make choices for him (no matter how much we might disagree with them) usually in these situations you can't do right for wrong!

 

Aside from the issue of whether he will "fit in" to a year 1 class - he will only go into year 1 of the parents' chosen school if there is a space!

In my area a child born between Jan 1 and August 31 may defer entry into reception until the January of the new school year and not lose their place.

Humm interesting the government say the term after their fifth birthday but for a deferred space it must be taken up in their year group (so by Easter at the latest) ...i wonder whether your lea is working legally if they are insisting on january?

Edited by finleysmaid
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Our Authority allows children to start in either Year 1 or Reception if the parents wish to defer entry (for summer born) We have had three in the last couple of years who have all started in Reception a year later than they should have. In one case the child had SEN and really benefitted - the other two would have managed perfectly well, as although summer born, were bright, mature and well behaved. We advised the parents to allow them to start with their cohort but they opted to keep them back a year.

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I just wish we could return to the rising 5's entry system....then all children enter Reception at the same level. We wouldn't lose 35 children in one go but 12 per term (if that) which would make our finances much more healthy too!

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I just wish we could return to the rising 5's entry system....then all children enter Reception at the same level. We wouldn't lose 35 children in one go but 12 per term (if that) which would make our finances much more healthy too!

In the words of Mary Hopkin 'Those were the days my friend.......'

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I just wish we could return to the rising 5's entry system....then all children enter Reception at the same level. We wouldn't lose 35 children in one go but 12 per term (if that) which would make our finances much more healthy too!

With you all the way on this one - this was the beginning of the end!

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What would you do??

One of my Mums is going to defer her sons place at school this September and send him to a setting which is run outdoors and is very free and relaxed. (in my opinion lacks discipline) He is currently splitting his time between us and them. Mum has messed around with his sessions so much that even I am now unsure when he is going to be here!! This boy has always struggled to control his aggression and to make friends. When he was attending every day we were really making progress, now he is back to two days he is back to square one. He is very strong and lashes out, he does not really choose to play with others but you can see that he wants to. He is incredibly bright and we have no worries that he has got any special needs. I feel really strongly that if he misses his reception year he will not be able to become part of the cohort group in year 1. Whilst I respect his Mums decision I do think it is wrong for him. Do I have an open discussion with her stating my reasons?, (she is a very strong willed lady.) As a parent myself I am not sure that I would want someone telling me that, but as a professional I feel I have to do what I feel is right for the child.

Any advice??

To be honest, if that's what she wants and he's no longer attending your setting there's not much you can do/say is there? I'd find out exactly what the CCC deferral policy states for her information and let her get on with it. Once he is term after 5th Birthday she has to have him in school or home educated by law...her choice.

Cx

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I just wish we could return to the rising 5's entry system....then all children enter Reception at the same level. We wouldn't lose 35 children in one go but 12 per term (if that) which would make our finances much more healthy too!

I'm a child of this system (my birthday is early august) and it worked so well.

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